State officials said Gov. David Paterson, above, is considering delaying refunds as a way to manage the state's cash flow at the end of the fiscal year,

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State officials on Wednesday sought to calm concerns among New Yorkers about a potential delay in state tax refunds, saying that any delay would be at most a few weeks.

"Those people that file in March, some of them may have to wait until that first two weeks of April, but they shouldn't have to wait any longer than that," state budget director Robert Megna told Gannett's Albany Bureau.

Political leaders have assailed the state for contemplating a delay in sending out tax-refund checks as a way to manage its finances, saying people should not have to wait to get their tax dollars back. ...